Mainspring-barrel for timepieces



H. A. BORRESEN.

MAINSFRING BARREL FOR TIMEPIAECES.

' APPLlcATloN mio SEPT. 4.1915.

1,392,676 l Patented 4 Oct. 4,- ,1921.

l 4 anims-Tsaar 1.

' H. AfBORRESEN.

MAINSPRl-NG BARREL FOR TIMEPIECES. APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 4, 1915.

1,392,676, rammed oct. 4, 1921.

. v4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l@ 8. 1 20w 6 1 @-1,3 www llgqfmlmlmlmlmlml H. A. BGRREsEN. y MAINS'FHING BARREL FOR T IMEPIECES. APPLlcA'Ti-on mso sERT.4 .-1915.

Patented oet. 4, 1921.

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H. A. BORRESEN. MAINSPRING BARREL FOR TIMEPIECES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4,A 1915.

patented out. 4, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'lum l III III UNITED STA .manen` A. noRREsEN, or MABQUETTE, MICHIGAN.

Application med september 4, 1915.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HELGE VBoRRnsnN7 a citizen of the United States,'residing at Marquette, in Vthe county `of Marquette and State ofMichigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mainspring.- 1

Barrels for lTimepieces,` of which' the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactde.-

scripton, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings7 forming a part of this specification. A 'Y i My invention relates to main spring barrels lfor watches, that type of main the ,driving ory ta-ched to or assembled with the main arbor, the main arbor providing at its extremities the going bearings. The object of my invention is to provide a Vsimple inexpensive structure that may be readilyy incorporated in` watch models as at thus without radical itself. The structure with winding mech spring barrels with which plate or the upper bridge,I and is likewise readily applicable or adaptableirrespective of whether the spring is wound up from the inner or the outer-coils.

My invention further, contempla-tes the.` provision of safety mechanismto render it simple and harmless to letvrdown thepower lof the main spring during the course` of repairs or otherwise; further structures'dis" closed herein preventing injury to the watch train includingvthe main wheel `arbor bearmovement, thus, insuring stability and avoidy ing dual wear. l I

The inventi on contemplates that the windor without usinfr and more particularly 'to main wheel is rigidly atand present designed and change inthe `watchis equally applicable anisms in whichl the winding wheel is adjacent either :tothe lower with my invention;

MAINsPnING-'BARREL ron; 'rnaaniernens.l4

serial No. V48,9232'.` i'

TES PATENTOFFICE.

Patented oct. 4,1921." i

ingmechanis`m`l associated with this main i A. arbor shall perform its functions without 1n any way placing saidarborunder stress .o said arbor as a bearing for any of the parts mentioned.r Y

l y inventionu further contemplates the provision of means for permitting recoil functions associated directly with' the main spring barrel or its immediately adjacent parts, thus simplifying the lrecoil y structure', and thus *havingy the allowances for Vthis recoil as close tothe recoilingportion of the spring as possible without utilizl ing other portions of the movement. The invention further" contemplates provision Aof meansfor giving support Vto the winding" Wheel at Jthe point of its location ralso support for the hollow winding huIb at thek point of the main spring pull.

necessary i will describe in the accompanying drawings `one or more embodiments lof my inven-l tion. in which'drawings:

Figure lv is a transverse sectional view of a barrel structure constructed in accordance Fig` 2'is a top-Iview of saidV structure in- Y l corporated in a f fragmentaryViewV of va Watch; y p y l Fig. 3 is a Vfragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 'showing amodied form;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectionallview4 on line -Fig. 5 is a view similar to 3 of a fur- `)e5 Fig.l 6V is a fragmentaryrsectional view ther. modification through substantially the central plane. of the barrel shown in Fig. 1;.

Fig; 7 along line b-f-b of Fig. 5,;

Fig. 8 is a y watch;

Fi 8a isa fragmentar viewl showin 4a ymain spring attachment relative tofFig. 9; jewel or other equally is a fragmentary sectional'lviewsectional view similarto Figg' yI showing the parts reversed sothat the 1g. 9 1s a Sectional view alongline c Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 10 of a modified form of blank;

Fig. 13V is a fragmentary Sectional view showing the blank of Fig. 11 in its formed condition; p

Fig. 14 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary viewsimilar to Fig. 1 showing my structure applied to a sectional barrel7 the main' spring being wound up from the outer coil; p

Fig.` 16 is' a top view of a modified form' of supplementary barrel;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a barrel provided v witlrthesupplemental barrel of Fig. 16;? Y j Fig. 18 is a fragmentary View of Ya pawl controlling mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a viewfsimilarto Fig. 15 of a modifiedy form thereof;

Fig.20 -is ;a transverse sectional viewvof a modified barrel structure having-a loosely mounted lratchet wheel f Fig. l21.is affragmentary top view ofthe loosely mounted ratchet wheel;

' Fig.-22 is a transverse-sectional view of" a section-al barrel having a loosely vmounted ratchet wheel;

Fig-23 is a fragmentary 'top viewfof a sectional barrel y showing means vfor associating theloosely 'mounted lratchet wheel there#- with,andf l f Fig. 24 is a fragmentary vviewof the loose- Y ly mou-ntedfratchet v-wheel showing `means for associating it withv thesectional barrel.- Referring more particularly-to Fig; 1, lshow a front plate 1 andbaclrplateV 2, these two plates: formingpartfof the rigid struc' ture of the usual watch movement. yA. mainarborf is pivotally carried by bearings 4 and 5 mounted respectively inV theVV plates 1 and 2. This arbor 3 is thus provided with adequatebearing 2facilities-within the rigid portions of themovement. The arbor has.' rigidly secured i to it? preferably by being screw threaded thereon a main spring bar-jy rel 6. #This main spring'barrel Vcarries an annular main wheel structure comprisingthe mainwheel? from which projects the annul lar flange 8 rounded at its lower extremity to engage the rounded surface yof lthe barrel '6.4 Vj A cover plate 9 havingv 'a' driving fit in the' flange 8 holds this main wheel structure in position together" with the `rounded fextremity thereof *at its oppositefend. Themain wheel*structure is slidablyarranged `about i" the barrel 6. In order to provide drivingy` facilities-between fthe barrel'and the main wheel strifcture,=l utilize' prongs 10 preferably pun'ehed'fiomthe material of thebar-v rel 6, whichv prongs arev adapted to enter de-H pressions'll4 as theibarrel drives `the main wheel structure. Should a breakage recoil` occur', Ythen these pron 10 act' like fratehet teeth and permit a reversemrotation of the sleeve 13 carries nearits lower extremity a finger 15. 'which finger is beveled longitudinally of the arbor'i` as seenmore clearly in Fig. 4, and'which' finger is adapted to engageLthe inner extremity of the spring. Thus this structure `permits the removal of the front plate 1 together with the sleeve 14 whenever it is desired for purposes of repair.` f=Thereafter the winding wheel sleeve 13 together with the winding wheel may be removed and `the beveled condition of the finger,` 15 permitsthi's` removal without carrying the spring with it. The same beveled arrangementpermits the spring again to be readily placedVv 'in position. To facilitate this introduction the 'sleeve 13 is beveled at its lower extremity fas at 16. AThe other/extremity fofthe 'springis suitably held by the ffingerfl'li f `Referring more particularly to Fig. 3. I showa-"modified form of structure in which the sleeve 14 is separate from the front plate 1, but is heldin place bythe same screws 100 18 which hold the'bearing 4'.

In' I showl al modified form of securing the winding wheell in position upon the sleeve 13, this winding wheel. '12 yresting upon ashelf 19 forming part of the sleeve 105 13, it being held in place bythe screw 20, the sleev'e13 having its'circular continuity broken as at 21 to accommodate a projection 22 forming part of the winding' wheel 12. Thelsleeve "14h" in this particular structure 110 is screwedto theffront plate 1 and itself carries the bearingl4. Y

In 'Fig/8 I' showthe barrel'l and winding parts reversed so that the winding wheel 12 is in close proximity to the back plate 2 and 115 lthe barrelfisin 'close proximity to the front platell, thus to accommodate for those mod- 'els wherethe winding wheel is to be in close proximity to the dial, showing the inter- "preferablyY 'constructed from; a blank as 125 shownin"Fig.` 10, thebase plate portion 24 whereof having fingers "25a adapted toen-A gage recesses26"in thebarrel structure 6 for drivingrpurposes and recoil purposes. The base portion 2 4 likewise has projecting 130 l 30holding this end segments 25, 25, 25, which are adapted to be bent rectangularly to the plate 24 when in the condition shown in F igs.` 8 and 9, these segments 25 being then rounded and bent inwardly as shown more clearly in Fig. 9 so that these lingersmay serve as resilient abutting surfaces for the spring should said spring act violently thereagainst when ya recoil such as may be caused by the breaking of the spring takes place. One of the segments 25 further has ak finger 26 punched therefrom to hold one extremity of the spring 27. The base plate 24 further has a 1ip28 punched `therefrom shown more clearly in Fig. 9 which is adapted to give the spring a more gradual sweep'trom its point of support, namely the finger 26, thus preventing the extremity of the spring which engages the finger 26 from kextending therefrom in a straight line age of parts is ythus avoided. The sleeve 13 has arecessed portion as at 29 to accommo-` date the extremity of the spring 27, a linger ofthe spring in position. There is thus provided'y a stronground surface for the'second convolution of the spring as it is'being wound about the said sleeve 13. The recessed portion 29 gradually-slopes so that during a recoil no sharp corners of the sleeve ,13 Vact against'the spring to cause breaking the end of the spring in letting `down the power.

In'Figs. 11 and 13, I show a furthermodiication of the blank 24a in that two lips 28a are provided which may serve to confine the spring similarly tothe lip 28 of the b1ank24.' f c In Fig. 12, I show a further modification of blank'24b in which the segments 25' have spring lingers 31 whichv may provide resilient fingers intermediate the ends 'of the segments 25". c

. In Figs. 16 and 17, I show a further 'modilied `form of supplemental barrel structure. he lmain barrel 6b is held in place liXedly for instance, as shown, and has ahub32,l which hub has an annular recess 33. This annular recess yis adapted to Vaccommodate the supplemental barrel 34, which supple# mental barrel has the side wall 35 carrying the driving fingers 36.A The base portion of this supplemental barrel. is generously' perforated by slots `37, 'thus forming three centrallylocated segments 38 which are adapted to be sprung into position in the annular re-` cess 33. Thusthe supplemental barrel 34 itself is resiliently .mounted to accommodate any side thruston the arbor 3. Y

In Fig. 18,^I -show the winding wheel 12 as provided with a holding pawl '39 mounted upon a pin-40,therebeing.` an elongated slot 41 `in'thepawl structure. This awlrhasa tail piece 42 carrying a prin 43."v ow whenever it is desired `toflet down-'thev power",

more or less radially.l Breakf wheel l12 leaves the entire thenthe pin 43 is moved along the slot 44 into the extreme position 45 of the slot'44. The back pressure ot the main spring still holds the pawl in position however until such a time as the repair man attempts to wind up, whereupon due to the position ofthe pin 43, the pawl 39 is withdrawn and the spiing may be gradually permitted to uncoi In Fi 15, I show my improved structure as applied to` a segmental barrel in which the main drive wheel 7 forms the lower half 46 of the barrel, and in which the windin wheel 12 is fastenedto the'upper half 47 of the barrel. In this particular structure the spring is wound from the outer end, the barrel section 47 being rotated by the winding wheel. The ratchet wheel 12 is provided with an annular sleeve or apron 48 which bears upon the annular bearingsleeve 14, which is fastened as shown to the front plate 1. In this structure the inner main spring coil is attached to the hub portion of the main wheel barrel 46.v

In Fig. 19 the upper half 47 of the barrel projects into the lower half v46. The lower main wheel half'v of( the barrel is sembled with the arbor 3 by the screw threaded nut 13d which also serves for an anchor of the'inner coil of the main spring which is attached to the hook 15.

The improvement is applicable to watches iXedly asin whichthe winding mechanism is disposed man upper two part bridge combination, and Figs. 20 and 22 show2 my structure applied to such models. In Fig. 2O my depending tubular support 14 for the hollow winding sleeve 13 is a I la, while the "uppermost bridge section 1 supports the vjournal for the upper bearing 4 ofthe arbor 3. In this structure I pref-` erably associate the ratchet wheel 12 loosely upon a shaped-oit' portion 13"L as shown in Fig. 21, so that Iit may actuate sleeve 13 dur- 4 `ing process of winding. The ratchet wheel upon the arbor 3 in'any suitable manner, 12

. to be separated for cleaning or repairs. This structure further permits arbor 3, barrel 6, the main spring, sleeve' 13, and cover 9 to be assembled as a unit ready for assemblage with bridge 1a, after which the placing of structure locked so that arbor 3 is guided home into assemblage with its interacting journal 4 in'bridge 1t Fig. 22 shows the same bridge structure applied to asectional barrel in which the de-V pending support `sleeve 14 is part of the bridge 1 and extending down for axial sup` part of the lower bridge port of the barrelsection i7 at the point of the main spring pull. In this structure I also preferably removably associate ratchet wheel 12 with'the upper barrel section 47, yet permitting a permanent support for` the main spring draw andthe Winding up action. rThe prongs 12a enter the apertures .47a asshoivn in'Figs. 22, 23 and Q4, andmay rotate the barrel section 47, but may be readily Withdrawn vtherefrom upon removal of bridge l. Bridge la in this case serves to automatically aline various barrel-structures Jfor assemblage withbridge 1 andthe raised circular tracks 4may iurther assist in .this particular.

e From what has thus been described the nature of my invention Willbe readily clear to those skilled inthe art. vHaving however thus described my invention, what I .claim as new andV desire to secure by entis:

1. lIn a time piece, the combination of a. main spring barrel, an arborion which said barrel is mounted, bearings for said arbor mounted upon rigid portions ofthe movement of saidtirnc piece,.a Winding Wheel, -a winding ,sleeve upon which said .Wheel is mounted, meansassociated Vwith said sleeve for engagingthemain spring, and. abearing sleeve fer said winding sleeve'iixedly secured to a rigid portion V'ofthe movement ofsaid time piece, said `bearing sleeve surrounding said varbor yand extending inwardly to ya point opposite that portion of the Winding sleeve which takes the thrust of the main spring.

vIn -a time piece, the combination of a main spring barrel,a main spring therein, a winding sleeve having a -recessed portion, a finger ,on said Winding sleeve `for engaging the inner end of said spring, saidfnger being beveled so las to automatically disengage said spring when the sleeve is moved transversely into orout of said barrel, anda shoulder on said sleeve adjacent said recessed portion for guiding the second convolution of the springr over said inger and the spring end engaged therewith.

3. A Watch movement comprising a main spring'barrel, a main arbor rotatably supporting said barrel, said arbor being supported at its ends by rigid portions ofthe Watch movement, a bearing sleeve surrounding said arbor but spaced therefrom, a `Winding sleeve supported by said bearingsleeve, a rmain spring, a `finger on said Winding sleeve 'for engaging the inner end of the spring, and means `for securing lthe outer end of the spring to said barrel, the `end of said Winding sleeve being beveled so that it may be freely moved into position within saidspring and said finger being beveled so that ity will automatically engage and disengage the spring as the winding sleeve is inserted and withdrawn.

Letters Pat- 4C. In time pieces, .the combination of Va spring barrel, a main arbor, a Winding Wheel, a sleeve upon which said Winding Wheel is mounted, :a main spring, means associated with said `sleeve for engaging the main spring, and a bearing sleeve for said Winding Wheel sleeve ixedly secured to a rigid portion of the movement of said time piece, said bearing sleeve loosely surrounding said arbor and extending inwardly to a point opposite that portion of the sleeve Whichztakes the thrust of the main spring, and said Winding sleeve being beveled at its lowermost extremity to facilitate its insertion within the main spring.

5. In time pieces, the `combination of a main spring barrel, a main arbor, tivo bearings for said main arbor mounted upon rigid portions ofthe movement of said timepieces, a Winding \vheel,a sleeve upon which said Winding Wheel is removably mounted, a main spring, means associated with said sleeve Jforengaging the main-spring, a bearing Vsleeve for-said winding wheel sleeve iixedly secured to :a rigid portion of the movement of lsaid timepiece, said bearing sleeve loosely surrounding said arbor, and extendingiinwardly to a vpoint opposite that portion of vthe sleeve which takes the thrust of the jmain spring, -and yspring fingers formed on `the `ivalls of said barrel to compensate or the thrust of a broken spring.

6. In time' pieces', the combination oi a main spring barrel, a main arbor,-t\vo bearings for vsaid main arbor mounted upon 100 rigid portions ofthe movement of said time piece, a Winding Wheel, a sleeve upon which said Winding `Wheel is mounted, `a main spring, means associated with said sleeve for engaging the main spring, a bearing sleeve 105 for sail winding wheel sleeve fixedly secured to a rigid portion of the movement ot said -time piece, said bearingsleeve loosely surrounding said arbor and extending inwardly to -a point opposite fthatjportion oit 110 the sleeve'which takes the thrust oit the main spring', a beveled inger :on the Winding sleeve to engage the inner end of the spring as the Winding sleeve lis .inserted Within the spring and a shoulder on the winding sleeve adjacentsaid finger to guidethe second convolution of the spring Aover saidinger.

7. A timepiece comprising a main spring, a/main spring .barrel to which the outer end of the spring is secured, a Winding sleeve projecting within said barrel, means to support saidbarrel and sleeve, a finger on said sleeveto engage the inner end of the spring, and means adjacent lsaid finger to `guide the second convolution of the spring over said iinger.

8. In a ltime piece thecombination of a main Wheel, a main spring, a barrel for said spring, means on said barrel to engage the end vof the spring and means on the barrel to Yprevent said main spring from bending inwardly near its point of engagement with said barrel.

9. A time piece comprising a main spring,

port said barrel and sleeve, a finger on said sleeve to engage the inner end of the spring,

and a beveled shoulder adjacent said finger l0 to guide the second convolution of the spring over the linger.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 'my name this 31st day of August.

HELGE A. BORRESEN. Witnesses MAX WIZABEL, HAZEL A. JONES. 

